Dutch Kills
Dutch Kills (GMAP) is basically north of the Queensboro bridge until it hits Astoria; this northern boundary is in dispute amongst locals, but it is usually considered to be around 35th or 36th Avenues. The eastern edge of the neighborhood is Northern Blvd. Dutch Kills was the first European settlement in Western Queens, and has been one of the last to jump into the re-development pool. Dutch Kills is considered to be an up and coming part of LIC.
Benefits of living in Dutch Kills are less expensive properties and cheaper rents; a bit of an industrial feel, since the area was primarily zoned for manufacturing for a long time; relative quiet at night; a strong civic presence via the Dutch Kills Civic Association.
It’s also very close to Astoria, which has its benefits (great restaurants, for one). We’ll be putting together a similar article to this one on Astoria, so keep an eye out for that.
Image source: Dutch Kills Civic Organization – near the Dutch Kills Playground on 37th Avenue
Much of the housing stock in Dutch Kills is in older buildings, though properties for sale are much less common here than in other parts of LIC. There are commercial properties for sale, though, and it is not out of the realm of possibilities that some of the industrial buildings in Dutch Kills could be converted into condos.
Commercial property for sale in Dutch Kills
The older buildings are often wooden structures (similar to the saltbox houses found in Astoria and Greenpoint) from the early part of the 20th century or smaller brick pre-war apartment buildings.
One of many wooden houses found throughout Dutch Kills
A pre-war apartment building in Dutch Kills
Hotels have also made their mark in Dutch Kills, from boutique hotels like the Ravel and Z Hotels to big chains like the Holiday Inn. There are over 20 hotels in Dutch Kills.
Z Hotel interior
The peaceful Noguchi Museum sculpture garden
Dutch Kills residents will sometimes claim the waterfront near Broadway (arguably Astoria) as their own, and take pride in the presence of the Noguchi Museum and Socrates Sculpture Park in the neighborhood. Museum of the Moving Image (MOMI) can also be considered part of Dutch Kills, as well as the Fisher Landau Center for Art, just a block from the 39th Street N/Q stop, and home to an amazing private collection of modern art.
The area around Queens Plaza/Queensboro Plaza has been transformed into the Dutch Kills Green and is home to two historic millstones, considered by some to be the oldest European artifacts in Queens.
The millstones in Dutch Kills Green near Queens Plaza
As far as restaurants go in Dutch Kills, the Windmill Tap & Grill is going to open soon, and will present the area with food and drink with a contemporary feel.
Image source: Windmill Tap & Grill – they will be serving coffee in the mornings and comfort food at night, as well as being a bar
The hidden in plain sight Buttercup Bakery is also at the south end of Dutch Kills, and is only open Tuesday-Friday. The area around MOMI is home to several excellent restaurants and bars, including newly opened S Prime steakhouse.
On Northern Boulevard lies the Brooklyn Grange, one of the biggest (almost an acre) roof top farms in NYC, as well as their venture below called COFFFEED (amazing coffee, trust us). The Entrepreneur Space, run by the Queens EDC is not far from there, and is home to an incubator kitchen that is producing all sorts of delicious delights.
COFFEED in the Brooklyn Grange building on Northern Blvd
Here are some examples of what’s available right now – older buildings:
- Co-op at 35-55 29th St – 1 bed/1 bath pre-war building with a fully renovated kitchen for $335,000
- Multi-family home at 40-26 Crescent St – 4 bed/2 bath wooden house for $848,888
In addition, there are a few outlying parts of LIC that don’t get much fanfare – the sliver of land between the LIE and Newtown Creek, with Calvary Cemetery on its eastern border, was once called Blissville (GMAP). Forgotten New York has written an interesting article on this section as well as Laurel Hill (West Maspeth). There is a bit of residential (nearer the cemetery) and a lot of industrial. Silvercup East has also made its home there.
There is also a section of LIC that blends in with Sunnyside, and that would be the area east of Skillman Avenue up until about 39th Street (GMAP). It’s an industrial area – Shapeways, the 3D printer company and LaGuardia Community College are located here.
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